Blessed be ye poor

Luke 6:20  And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 

A person is spirit, soul and body and the body is going to perish. The spirit and soul continue. Self effort will not take us to the kingdom of God. Truly he first must choose us and we then respond by faith in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ for our sins. By faith we are citizens in the kingdom of God. If I ask most anyone if they are going to heaven, they will respond, "I'm a good person."  No one is good enough to earn eternal life with Jesus. That is why he came. Whosoever believes in him will enter into the kingdom of God.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

That's the truth.

Virtue Power

Luke 6:17  And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; 

Luk 6:18  And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. 

Luk 6:19  And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. 

The Greek word for virtue is also translated as power. It is dynamis, from which we get the word dynamite. When Nobel invented dynamite he meant it for good. It was able to blast through rock, however it also was used for bad things, especially in war. He wanted it to be used for good so there was a Nobel peace prize given yearly for those bringing about peace. However, like all things of man, this too was corrupted to reward political ideologies. 

The word "dynamis".is more often translated as power. Strongs concordance lists the various uses of the word.

strength power, ability

1. inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth

2. power for performing miracles

3. moral power and excellence of soul

4. the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth

5. power and resources arising from numbers

6. power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts

We should be like Jesus, using power for good.  The Bible warns us of evil powers, evil spirits in high places.

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

Through Jesus there is a greater power. Pray that his virtue will go forth in an evil world and that through Jesus we might do good.

Eaglewings Ministries

Disciples and Apostles

Luk 6:12  And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 

Luk 6:13  And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; 

Jesus prayed  all night in a mountain place talking and listening to God his Father. After prayer he called his disciples. A disciple is a follower and learner of the master teacher. Out of the disciples he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles. These were chosen after praying, so he knew who he was to choose and he also knew one would betray him.

If we believe in Jesus and have had a brn again experience , then we are to be his disciples.  Te Greek word for disciples is mathētēs, a learner, pupil, disciple. Jesus spoke that to be a disciple it required discipline and determination.To be his disciple is probably life's highest pursuit. If we are to grow spiritually we need his Spirit and his teachings.

Luk 14:26  "If you come to me but will not leave your family, you cannot be my follower. You must love me more than your father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters—even more than your own life! 

Luk 14:27  Whoever will not carry the cross that is given to them when they follow me cannot be my follower. 

In other words, to be a disciple may find you in a place of choices. Some may oppose Jesus, especially in the early church where the Pharisees had power over the people. A Muslim coming to Jesus may experience opposition from his own family. Persecution only makes the true church to grow more.

These first twelve disciples were also called apostles. The Greek word apostolos, a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders, specifically applied to the twelve apostles of Christ. The apostles were chosen and sent by Jesus. Mathew, Mark, Peter and John also were chosen to write portions of the Bible. Paul was chosen to be the apostle to the Gentiles, the nations other than the Jews. An apostle must have been sent by Jesus to a specific calling. There are no new apostles today who are adding to the Bible, it is complete.

Everyone who has come to Jesus has the Holy Spirit to help them. He will show you what God and Jesus have said and will help you to understand more and to be his disciple. All have a certain calling of God as well as Spiritual gifts and the fruit of the Spirit. As a disciple we will learn of these.

On Another Sabbath

Luke 6:6  And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. 

Luk 6:7  And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him. 

Luk 6:8  But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. 

Luk 6:9  Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? 

Luk 6:10  And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other. 

Luk 6:11  And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus. 

The question was; "Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? "

The scribes and Pharisees kept the letter of the law, but not the spirit of the law. If they had the spirit of God they would not have sought to kill Jesus, their Messiah.  Truth is they plotted to kill Jesus with the same spirit that the media had towards Donald Trump. Trump was the object of their hatred, but unlike Trump, Jesus had no sins.

It was on another Sabbath day,  the Passover, that Jesus gave his life for us on the cross of Calvary. This was the plan from the beginning of creation. Jesus would shed his blood as the atonement for our sins.  Have you received the free gift of sins forgiven? Have you received salvation, and entered into the eternal family of God? There is no other way. Repent from sins, be sorry for them and receive Jesus as your savior. He died and arose from the grave on what we call Easter Sunday.

Eaglewings Ministries

Seeing Clearly

Luke 6:42  How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye. 

You have to be pretty close to see a speck in your brothers eye.  Or if you are a hypocrite you don't need to be anywhere near someone to see a flaw or perhaps a fault;  you just project your own fault onto the person. This is done too often by politicians who put there flaws on another to make him look bad. This is a destructive process. We in Jesus are to do good and often we learn from our past failings.  God has been merciful to us, so we should be merciful to others. Let us look for ways to encourage others. Correcting a person should be done in love knowing that we are not yet perfect.

Galatians 6:1  Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 

Gal 6:2  Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 

Eaglewings Ministries